Phil McConkey
Played 6 years in the NFL as a WR, punt returner and kick returner for the Giants, Packers, Cardinals and Chargers. Played college football at the Naval Academy and served in the U.S. Navy before joining the NFL. Best remembered for his oustanding game in Super Bowl XXI.

The Saints can negotiate after the suspension is up and submit a new extension to the league office. It is possible that the league may get into another battle with the Saints in court and the clause of the contract that brought everything into question may stand (doubtful, but still out here). The league took around six months to even tell the Saints that the contract was not good and an out clause tied to any suspension for GM Mickey Loomis was setting a bad precedent. Or, did they?

Despite plenty of questions out there that certainly need to be answered, it did not stop me from setting odds on which team will send bags full of money to the front door of the suspended coach and employ Sean Payton next season.

THE OBVIOUS LEADER

New Orleans Saints:
Let's not forget several things about why this needs to work for the Saints and they know their guy and the inner-workings of everything. It seems to me that the clause about Loomis can be construed of evidence that the Saints knew for a while that they were going to get the hammer from the bounty investigation. In an effort to be nice to the guy who made Drew Brees into the Louisiana icon he is and to say thanks to the coach who gave the town the Super Bowl, the Saints wrote in the clause. It only gives the option for Payton to opt out. Tom Benson is so desperate to keep Payton happy that Benson got permission to allow Sean to do odds and ends work for the New Orleans Hornets since he has been out of work, according to Peter King.

I'm wondering if it even would be a good idea for Payton to go anywhere. He is not being portrayed as the bad guy in Bountygate. Jonathan Vilma and Gregg Williams are. Drew Brees, a quarterback he already has cemented his reputation with, still will have four years left on his contract.

Besides, it has been the defense that has been the problem this year in New Orleans. The defense is on pace to be one of the worst of all-time in points and yards allowed. Drew Brees and the offense is averaging over 300 yards passing a game and are ranked in the top five in total yards per game. Payton can come back to the sidelines and re-vamp the defense and fire the defensive coordinator.

Finally, the Saints to sort of have "dibs" on him if the league finally does say that Payton is a free agent. They have already talked money and have 99.99% of a contract drawn up in acceptable terms for everybody. ODDS: 1:4

WILL BE IN THE CONVERSATION

Dallas Cowboys:
Yes, yes, everyone seems to agree on this. Jerry Jones would be happy to offer anything from his favorite bottle of wine to a percentage of his oil futures to get Payton on the sidelines with him. Sean Payton and Jerry Jones play hop scotch with Tony Romo in the off-season. The suspended coach's family plans to live in the Dallas area. Also, Jerry Jones was locked out of the locker room after another team performance riddled with key mistakes that cost them the game. Also, Payton already coached for the Cowboys from 2003-2005.

Jason Garrett may already be updating his resume and the Cowboys would love to make a big splash. The question is this: is Tony Romo still young enough to start with a clean slate? Obviously, Payton would know best from all those Scrabble games and rounds of golf. Tony Romo is playing like the type of guy who falls in love with a word and constantly leaves the triple word score open for his opponent. ODDS: 5 to 1

Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles probably gave Michael Vick one one hundred million dollar contract too many and the Philly pass rush has been slowed down enough that it hasn't even been mildly disturbing for opponents' offensive lines. Andy Reid's voice may be getting old and the team sort of has the feel of one where a change of scenery for some would be welcome.

The enticing parts include the ability to work with a young quarterback in Nick Foles, familiarity with expectations due to being a QB coach for two years in Philadelphia and a talented receiving corps that may work well for him.

So, who is Nick Foles? Does he fit Sean Payton? Maybe. Foles has NFL size with his 6'5" and has a strong arm. He seems to play-fake well and can make all of the NFL throws; but like many young quarterbacks, he struggles against the blitz and can have issues with accuracy. It seems that Payton would have to be patient and be able to protect the young signal-caller. The suspect condition of the Eagles offensive line could be a major issue.ODDS: 10 to 1

THE INTERESTING LONGSHOTSNew York Giants, New York Jets
The Giants? Yeah, what if Tom Coughlin decides he is tired of the whole thing and wants to retire? Wouldn't Sean Payton want to go to a team that he knows has the talent to be a contender? Why wouldn't New York be willing to pay up to continue their recent dominance in New York? The Giants have a great receiving corps full of young receivers, don't they? Heck, Payton coached in New York already. Think about it. Sean Payton has coached in New York, Dallas and Philly. He knows the NFC East and he knows three of the toughest markets in the NFL.

The Jets? What if Sean Payton turned around Mark Sanchez? What if he makes a run with them? Wouldn't that put Payton into Belichickian status around the league? What if he did it with Tebow? Would the world explode? ODDS: Each are 40 to 1

THE FANS WISH IT COULD HAPPENSan Diego Chargers:
While Rivers is interesting, I do not see a dysfunctional situation that has a team getting older to be the type of thing Sean Payton wants to get invloved in. ODDS: 100 to 1

Kansas City Chiefs:
Sean Payton becoming the Chiefs head coach would be the greatest thing to happen to the town since 1985. It would be bigger than getting Joe Montana. Wait? That actually happened? Well, what happened then? Oh. Well, that's what you get when you are the Cleveland west of the Mississippi. ODDS: 150 to 1

Oakland Raiders:
There's just not enough guys willing to line up to be a Raiders coach or player right now. Carson Palmer doesn't need to be reclaimed; he needs to be 8 years younger. ODDS: 200 to 1

Tennessee Titans:
Jake Locker is nice, young and athletic. The defensive talent is lacking and the team does not have the panache to draw someone like Payton. ODDS: 250 to 1

MAN, I HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPENIndianapolis Colts:
I am not going completely morbid here. But, let's say that Pagano just can't continue coaching due to the toll of chemotherapy or something. Personally, I think this is a real longshot because I have every belief that Chuck Pagano is going to come back and be with this team for a long time. Also, Ariens would probably remain head coach. Still, the idea of Sean Payton coaching Andrew Luck is probably something unfair to the rest of the league. ODDS: 10,000,000 to 1

PLAY POWERBALLCleveland Browns:
I believe that Jimmy Haslam will be a great owner. I believe he will have Joe Banner telling him the proper places to throw money. Sean Payton would be one of those places. There is just one problem. The sports gods hate Cleveland. ODDS: Play Powerball

The Saints can negotiate after the suspension is up and submit a new extension to the league office. It is possible that the league may get into another battle with the Saints in court and the clause of the contract that brought everything into question may stand (doubtful, but still out here). The league took around six months to even tell the Saints that the contract was not good and an out clause tied to any suspension for GM Mickey Loomis was setting a bad precedent. Or, did they?

This is wrong on several points, IMHO

The Saints are not in any court battle with the NFL. Certain players and the NFLPA is.

In order to go to court SOMEONE has to take it. Payton won't, so the only other parties are The Saints, or NFL. I don't see either doing so.

The NFL has a requirement to approve all major contracts with personnel. The rule should be in the bylaws HERE

I don't see rules for non-player contracts but the bylaws require Commissioner disapproval in 10 days. Which means that according to reports, if Payton wasn't informed prior to March, then the League's disapproval authority timed out. Which means it is intact, and thus is valid. Now the NFL might want to declare the clause void, but that, in essence, negates the extension. The NFL has a very thin and crumbling perch to stand upon.

On the six months part, I give a link to the NFL refuting the statement. Without insider knowledge, I can only give what has been reported.

I never said it is in court. In fact, I said it was doubtful to happen. I only can see a road where it gets there. I see it possible only if the NFL is serious in blocking those sorts of clauses. We seem to actually agree on this point.

Here's my take (acknowledging my Saints fan bias):
Payton knew he was going/ or could be suspended. They knew the NFL was investigating since '09. He wrote the clause in his contract as insurance in case he was suspended, his deal could be voided and redone to recover the money lost during the suspension. Payton doesn't want to go anywhere, esepecially since Brees is locked down for 4 more years and he can still "name" his GM (in title only, Payton is making personnel decisions IMO).

The NFL statement actually makes no sense. It doesn't answer the "Have you voided the contract" nor does it answer "Did you reject the contract when it was submitted"

It actually says they havent "made a determination of the contract status of Payton with the Saints next year" It implies a near term determination,
but could also be true if they simply let the contract do a 10 day "time out" back in 2011, which eliminates their ability to reject it.

However they can just waive their hands and say the reject it at any time and the recourse is court. They can also waive their hands and state the term is void and therefore consider payton a 2013 employee of Saints, all clubs should act accordingly and not tamper, with recourse being court.

Roger could also extend Paytons suspension. And the recourse is court.

So this will probably be papered over with money and no explosion will happen. Payton stays.

The only place he would ever go would be Dallas. But I'm sure with the bountygate and the team sucking in historic ways, and every team needed a coach wanting him, he has super leverage. Expect him to sign the biggest contract ever for a coach.

So exactly how do you negotiate a contract with the Saints, without having any contact with the Saints??? An agent is de facto contact.

Yep. Another good point about this. There is always a way around everything. Boy, public perception of Goodell has really helped Payton out here. People forget that even though Rodge hates the ruling by Tags, it still stated a program was in place. In the legal world, the head guys seems to be the one to fall. In the NFL, it is the Lts. Only actual LTs if we are talking about J'Marcus Webb.

Payton and Benson apparently had regular meetings (once a week based on what I read about a basketball game he popped up at). I guess meeting with the owner is considered as not interacting with the organization... or, special dispensation was given for purposes of negotiating the contract. Either way, they saw one another a lot.

While compassion and flexibility are good things, the fundamental thing you want from a leader is the same as you want from a ref: consistency. Roger doesn't have it. The initial punishment was no contact with any team in the NFL. Roger's decisions give the appearance of being dictated by his mood that day. Over the last year I've done a 180 on the guy. Used to admire him. Now I think he's clueless about how to lead people.